Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-09

| ccfs III securing tne passage OF the OH
einal Edmunds law has emboldened
them TO make most extraordinary de-
mands for further legislation.
The letter says in regard to the Ed
munds-Tuckcr law that it is generally
considered that no such law was ever
enacted IN this country before, and it,
rnrnllol can only be found in the histo
nv of medieval times, when mems ideas
we're confined to such grants as de-
,rotjc governments chose to give them.
The provisions of the law interfering
with Church property contrary 70 the
intentions OF its donors the violation
of ecclesiastical rights; spoliation
and confiscation, and Acknowledgement
of women. without even an allegation
OF crime against them, are an arbitrary
exercise of despotic power without
parallel in Republican history, and the
pretence OF the enemies of the Nor
mons that they wished to rescue the
women of Utah from bondage would
be forever silenced by this outrage.
I ne whole bill betrays an attempt to
nave the way for the domination
of the majority by the minority, be-
canse the majority is composed OF
members OF an unpopular Church. II
considers that the relief of many sub
iects of judicial persecution would be
considerably extended could the ex-
IRENE rulings OF the Utah court be re-
viewed by the United States Supreme
Court as the same have been. Re-
fcrring to the disincOrporation Of the
Church grave doubts are entertained
rs to its being corporation, and If it
is yet decided to be corporation, is 1t
POSSIBLE after the Territory granted
the charter Of incorporation, which
Congress for years permitted to re-
main unchanged. the latter body can
now revoke the charter and appropriate
the proceeds Of the property TO such
uses as the majority in Congress de-
signate? IL so. are we with all the
people of the Territories living under
the Government and the law or are
we end all our rights as freemen sub
ject to the whim and caprice of Con-
press? Referring to the test-oath the
epistle says Understanding fully,
therefore, all the consequences, they
who DO so have generally resolved to
take the oath rather than be the victims
of political demagogues; but this will
ingness does not divest the oath of its
enormity or unconstitutional charac-
ter. The rule of the law is that
man is presumed to be innocent
Of offence and the intention to commit
any offence until he is proven guilty.
Ey the Edmunds-Juckcr law it is pre-
sumed that the citizens OF Utah are
disposed to violate the law, and must
therefore rebut the presumption by
taking the oath. Ii the oath were OK
purgatory, and were required of the
people in rebellion, it might have
show of justification, but to require
such an oath from citizens who have
violated no law is without paral
lei, even among despotic govern;
ments. In the haste and zeal OF
madness to destroy Mormonism
all the settled principles OF jurispru-
dence are disregarded and evil prece-
dents are established. Men talk and
act as if it were absolutely essential to
the happiness of the people of tue re-
public 10 override every true principle
Of the Government in order TO strike
down the majority of the people OF
Utah. There is danger that the pre-
cedent now being made will in the not
distant future be inconceiyably fruitful
Of evil to the people OF this republic.
Tie epistle is chiefly remarkable for
lis silence on the subject of polygany,
10 which 1t makes 10 allusion whatever.